Adjustable desk and seat arrangement



May 10, 1932. v. R. MENON 1,858,103

AADJUSTABLE DESK AND SEAT ARRANGEMENT Filed Deo. 27, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheetl V. R. MENON ADJUSTABLE DESK AND SEAT ARRANGEMENT May l0, 1932.

Filed Dec. 27. 1928 @Sheets-Sheet 2 gwuzntoz, lf@ w Patented May 10,1932 UNITED asrf'rs I T FFH-CE ADJUSTABLE DESK AN'D SEAT ARRANGEMENTApplication led December 2'?, 1928.

This :application is a continuationiin part of my copending applicationSerial No. 228,903, iiled October 26,1927, and. in part involvesVcertain improvements over the conf struction disclosed yin ysaid priorapplication.

As pointed out in my prior application, in using a desk or'reading,Writing or other Work, it is highly desirableto havethe upper surface ofthe Worksupport or table in- 10 lclined or'tilted toward the user so -asto bring itinto `a plane asnearly as possible at right angles to theline of' vision and to have such Work support adjustable sothat the eyesof the user can becorrectly'ffocused on the Work andthe user ycaused'toassume' an upright Vposture either sitting or standing. To this endthe-'present invention involves anarrangementienrbodying a desk having avertically adjustable Workitable and fa vertically adjustablefseat sothat both may be adjusted 'rest onpaperv holder` which may be placed atany desired position on the upper surface ofthe -Wo-rk table. A' stillfurther object is to provide the Work table with a pivoted holderor'tray for vreceiving lan inkwell, pen, pencils or other materials;Alfurther object is -to provide a desk ot' the kind in kquestion inwhich the Worktable is provided adjacent its upperedge Witha rollerbywhich paper may be held in any desired position and fed dovvnvvv-ardly'over the upper-surface of the Work tablev by nianuallyrotating suchroller.

The invention isillustratedinthe accompanying drawings forming ay parthereof, 1t being understood that modilications may be .resorted tovWithin the scope `of the/appended claims.

ln said drawings: f Figure 1 isa vertical side-elevation of the.combined desk Vand seat F ignre2` is a-:p'lan viewvofrthe same;

Serial No. 328,860. i

Figure 3 is a verticalsection on the line 3 3 of 1;

Figure 3a is a detail view of oneof the members for adjusting j the Worktable to vary the inclination thereof;

Figure 4 is a vertical section on therline 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Figure ta is an enlarged detail of theend of the pvot red for the Worktable;

igure 5 is sideelevation ofthe'upper portion of the desir showing aslightly modified arrangement of arm rest; i j

Figure 6 is a plan vievvl of the arrangement shown in Fig. 5;

Figure 7 is a vertical section-on-ytheline 7-7 of Fig. 1; and Y Figure 8is a verticallside elevation-nina modified arrangement of adjustableseat;y

Referring'to the drawings in detail bythe reference characters thereon,10 'indicatesxa 1 base which is adapted to supporta seat-and a. deskarranged in convenientv relation to eachother. The seat, as-shovvn inFigs. 1,2 and 7, is made up of standards 11, 11a, Which arerigidlysecured on the base 10 andeach y of `Which is provided with Aa 'brace10a secured thereto and to the base 10.` Betweenthe y kstandards 1l, 11ais arranged the seatproper, indicated at 12, andv Which comprises sidepieces or rails 12a upon which alia-t or suitablyshaped seat member 12?)is secured. The standardll is provided with avertically arrangedseriesrofhcles 13 andthe inner surface of vthe opposite standard isprovided with a series. of corresponding depressions 13u. The seatproper supported in any desired position on the standards 11, 1101.b'ymeans of'a barllA which may'beinserted through any onercf the holes 13in the stand'- ard 11' and through therails 12a ofthe seat and into Voneof the depressions laronithe opposite standard. At its rear Vend theseat provided With lateral projectionsor lugs 12e which `are adaptedtovcontactvvith the rear-edges of the standards ll, 11a, to hold v theseat ni'elnber 12b in substantiallyhorizontal position, suchprojectionsbeing formed either on the side pieces 12a or on the'rearedge of the seat member 12b. The seat-12 mayV be adjusted to any desiredheight by in serting the bar 14 in any one of the holes 13 anddepressions 13a. To prevent withdrawal of the bar 14, I provide a coverplate 15 pivoted at 15a to the standard 11 and which normally restsagainst this standard and is secured thereto by means of a bolt 156which extends transversely between the standards 11, 11a, the coverplate 15 being notched to fit over this bolt and the bolt having on itsend a clamping nut 150. When itis desired to withdraw the bar 14 tochange the position of the seat 12, it is only necessary to loosen theclamping nut 150 and turn the cover plate 15 down about its pivot point15a. The seat is provided with any suitable backrest, indicated at 156,which is arranged between and rigidly secured to the standards 11, 11a.

In the seat arrangement shown in Figure 8each of the standards indicatedat 16 is grooved on its inner surface at 16a, and extendingrrearwardlyand downwardly from these grooves are shallow notches 166. In thisarrangement the side pieces of the seat 12 are each provided with alaterally proj ecting pin or lug 17', which pins are adapted to slidevertically in the grooves 16a and rest in the notches 166. In this form'also the seat adjacent its rear end is provided with laterallyprojecting pins or lugs 18 which are adapted to contact with the rearedges of the standard 16 to hold the seat in substantially horizontalposition. When it is desired to change the level of the seat in thisarrangement, it is only necessary to tip the same up in the positionshown in dotted lines in Figure 8, when the pins 17 may be withdrawnfrom the notches 166 and the seat moved up or down as desired.

The desk portion of my construction includes vertical members orstandards 20 also rigidly secured to the base 10 and each of which isprovided with an upper slot 20a and a lower slot 206. Extendingdownwardly and rearwardly from the slot 206 i-s a plurality of notches20c for a purpose hereinafter described. Arranged against the innersurface of each of the standards 2O is an upright support 21 betweenwhich is arranged an upper cross bar 21a and alower cross bar 216, whichare rigidly secured to the supports 21. The upright supports 21 andcross bars together form a rigid vertically slidable support for thework table later described. A

f rod 22 extends transversely through the supports 21 beneath the bar21a and through the slots 20a of the standards 20. On one end this baris provided with a head 22a and on the other end with a clamping nut226. On the lower end of one or both of the supports 21 is secured alaterally projecting pin or lug 23 and these pins are adapted to rest inany desired one of the notches 200 above mentioned.

By the foregoing arrangement it is eVident that by loosening the nut226, the supports 21 and the parts carried thereby may be raised orlowered, as desired, the pins 23 being withdrawn from the notches 20oduring such raising or lowering operation. Also after the desiredadjustment is secured, the pins 23 may be caused to enter the propernotches 20c and the nut 226 can be again tightened to secure the partsrigidly together.

The upper ends of the supports 21 are inclined toward the seat 12 andmounted on these supports is a work table 25 which is adapted to supportpaper or books or any other work in convenient position for a personoccupying the seat 12. In view of the vertical adjustability of thesupports 21 relative to the standards 20, as heretofore described, it isevident that the work table 25 may be bodily adjusted up and downrelative to the base 10 and to the seat 12 to accommodate persons ofdifferent heights. Also the wor table may be adjusted upwardly to suchan extent as to accommodate a person in a standing position.

The work table 25 is arranged to rest in an inclined position on top ofthe supports 21, or of desired the degree of inclination may be varied.Also this table is preferably made so that it can be adjusted laterallyrelative to the supports 21, in other words, the work table is free fromattachment to the supports and is laterally slidable relative to suchsupports. These results are accomplished by the following arrangement:An angle bar 26 is secured along each edge of the work table, one leg ofeach of said bars being rigidly secured to the under surface of the worktable and the other leg extending downwardly therefrom. Each of thedownwardly extending legs of the bars 26 is provided with a longitudinalslot 27 and the lower edge of each is provided with a series of notchesindicated at 28. Arranged between each of the angle bars 26 and theadjacent face of the supports 21 is an adjusting member 29. each ofwhich at its upper end is provided with a square hole 30. A rod or shaft31 extends transversely through the upper ends of each of the supports21 and is rotatable therein. At each end the rod or shaft 31 is providedwith a squared portion 32 which tightly fits in the squared openings 30above mentioned in the adjusting members 29. The extreme end port-ionson the rod or shaft 31 are preferably round, as indicated at 32a, whichportions extend through the slots 27 in the downwardly extending legs ofthe angle bars 26. A screw 33 is inserted in each end of the rod orshaft 31 to hold the parts in assembled relation. Adjacent their lowerends, each of the adjusting members 29 is provided with a. slot 34 and arod 35 extends transversely through the standards 21 with its oppositeends arranged in said slot, one end of this rod, preferably the righthand end,

Lesa-1.103

being provided with a clamping nut 35a. One of the adjusting members 29,preferably the leftliand one, is provided with a handle 29a..

It will be understood that the work table is adapted to normally restupon the inclined upper ends of the supports 21 or upon the upper edges29h of the members 29. Also it will be apparent from the foregoingdescription that the work table 25, along with the angle bars 26, iscapable of sliding` motion relative to the adjusting members 29. Inorder to secure the work table in any desired position relative to theadjusting members 29, the latter are provided with laterally extendingpins 29o which are adapted to enter any7 one of the notches 28 formed inthe lower part of said angle members. It will further be understood fromthe foregoing that by moving the adjust-ing members around their pivotalsupport, that is, around the axis of the rod or shaft 31, theinclination of the work table 25 can be varied as desired. That is, byloosening the nut a on the rod 35 and grasping the handle 29a on theadjusting member 29, this member and the ccrresponding one may besimultaneously rotated upwardly to the saine extent.- and after the samehave been rotated to bring the table to the desired inclination, theclamping nut- Ba may be tightened to secure the parts in the desiredposition of adjustment.

Preferably the upper ends of the angle bars 26 are extended somewhatbeyond the work table 25 and between such extending ends I provide atray 37 for receiving pens, pencils or other material, this tray beingpivote-d at 37a so that the same remains substantially horizontal evenwhen the inclination of the work table is changed.

At its lower edge the work table, as shown in Figure 1, is provided withan arm rest 38 which extends upwardly and rearwardly in such a positionas to conveniently support the arms of a person using the surface of thework table. As shown particularly in Figure 2, this arm rest ispreferably curved so as to lit around the body of a person occupy-` ingthe seat 12. In the form shown in Figure l, the arm rest 3S is securedto the work table. If desired, this arm rest may be made adjustable asindicated in Figure 5, in which the body portion 39 of the arm rest hassecured thereto side bars 39a, the ends of which are turned inwardly toengage any one of a series of depressions 40 arranged along the edge ofthe work table 25. Also in this arrangement the arm rest is providedwith pivot-ed brace members 4l which are adapted to engage in any one ofa series of notches formed in notched members 42 secured at each side tothe upper surface of the wort; table 25. In this form the arm rest alsopreferably formed with a curvature at its rear edge to fit around thebody of the user.

In order to properly hold papers or books on.=the.upper surfaceofeth'ew'orkfftable.25., I provide.' ai workl rest, indicated.-Y ati43'. This work-.resti comprises :alcentfral .portioniwhich is adapted itol contact" with the upperf: surface of the worlrtablefand whichmayabecov-ered with. rubber or: wood on any i otlieri suitablematerial'. At: its' ends.: theV work resti' 43:? is provided withextensions 43a, the` extreme ends 1 off which are lient inwardly asindicated att43b, andare-adapted to beinsertefdiinairyonev ofthe ropenings40 'formedxiiitlre' .edges of' the` worlctable.` In Vother words; thework rest 48 mayrbeadjusted toY anydesired porsi'. tion on the 'worktable;4

1111 usingfi a construction of 4this lriirdgl have found itf'ver-.yconvenient-.to have: some means for holding'paperion-the table-:andfeeding the same.'rdownwa-:rdlyl` thereoven. VIn order: 'toneffectz thisresult,V I1' arra-n ge". a: roller 44l adjacent the upper edge ofthe'tablewhich extends :transversely thereof andztlie 'ends `of whichvareimounted in-;bracketsr45 securedto the edgeofthe'worlr table,V theendioibtlie rollergbeing provided with ahandlef46i` forfrotating thesame. Ifrfdesired, a supplemental rol-ler 47 maybe provided l andgearedfto" the roller 44.

The arrangement vdescribedis ofparticular applicability to school use,although, of course, not limited to that purpose. The seat 12 mayleasily be adjusted to accommodate persons of different heights and thedesk can also be bodily adjusted up and down relative to the seat, itsinclination can be readily changed and it may be slid up and downrelative to its supports so as to bring it into convenient position fora person of any size occupying the seat 12 or in position to be used bya person of any size when in a standing posture.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A desk construction comprising a base, standards mounted on saidbase, each of said standards having a vertical slot therein, a worlrtable, supports on which said table is mounted, said supports extendingdownwardly between said standards, said supports at their lower endshaving laterally extending I projections and said standards having aseries of notches adapted to be engaged by said projections, a rodextending through said supports and the slots in said standards andhaving a clamping nut on one end, whereby said supports may be clampedto said standards with said projections resting in any desired one ofsaid notches.

2. A desk having a work table and a support on which said table ispivotally and slidably mounted, a member pivotally connected to saidsupport and arranged beneath said table and positioned to contact withand hold said table in any desired position of pivotal adjustment, saidtable being rotatable and movable laterally relativeV to said supportand said member, a notched bar carried by said table and a projection onsaid member adapted to be engaged in any desired one of said notches bysliding said table relative to its support and means for securing saidmember in any desired position of pivotal adjustment.

3. A construction of the kind described comprising a pair of supports, atable pivotally and slidably mounted on said supports, a member arrangedbeneath said table and pivotally connected to one of said supports andarranged to hold said table in any desired position of adjustment, saidtable being rotatable and movable laterally relative to said support andsaid member, means for clamping said member in any desired position ofpivotal adjustment, whereby said table is held at any desiredinclination, a lug carried by said member and a notched bar secured tosaid table whereby any one of said notches may be engaged over said lugto hold said table in any desired position of slidable adjustmentrelative to said supports.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

' VADAKKATI-I RAMUNNI MENON.

